Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) - TVC - Basic (VC61)

This limited edition figure depicts the first costume ever produced for Boba Fett. The all-white armor reflects the character's initial concept as a "super trooper" before he evolved into the bounty hunter he is today. This prototype design was unveiled on June 28, 1978 in a screen test shot and is being worn by the assistant film editor for The Empire Strikes Back. In the 20-minute screen test, the sound designer describes the myriad weapons and features on this armored uniform for George Lucas and the Star Wars crew. For the first time ever, we have created this special action figure to commemorate the birth of this favorite character from the Star Wars saga.

Slowly but surely Star Wars collectors are being treated to every last iteration of Boba Fett in action figure form possible with all thanks to Hasbro. Just when we thought every possible or attemptable version has been executed, Hasbro surprises us yet again and comes through to bring us yet again something new. Well, maybe “new” isn’t the right word here, but the 2011 The Vintage Collection Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) mail-away exclusive, although a repaint of a previously released figure, is indeed a unique version of Boba Fett that fans have wanted for a very long time. The figure is a lot of fun and has been approached relatively faithfully to the actual prototype seen in that 20 minute video from June 28, 1978, but it isn’t 100% accurate and these missed details will undoubtedly irritate some of the more decisive collectors out there. If you didn’t know any better, you’d probably confuse this with the McQuarrie concept version of Boba Fett. After all, they’re similar in that they’re both white, but upon closer inspection you’ll quickly come to the realization of how closely it resembles the final armor seen in The Empire Strikes Back which is almost just an unpainted white version of it.

Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) is a kit-bashed figure that is 99.9% created by utilizing 2004’s VOTC Boba Fett figure. Hasbro also used the holster/belt combination from 2007’s TAC Animated Debut: Boba Fett (No. 24) figure to complete the look for this new figure. Hasbro however made a few mistakes. If you check the stills of the prototype armor, you’ll notice that his jetpack missile has “wings” on it. Hasbro just used the available/previously existing jetpack and didn’t retool it to include this detail. The weaponry is replicated beautifully, but the prototype costume doesn’t have any functioning holsters added. The guns that come with the action figure look exactly like the weapons Boba Fett is holding in his hands (or hanging from his outfit) from the stills we have come across and we have to admit we’re thoroughly impressed with this attention to detail Hasbro included here. The infamous Star Wars beach towel that George Lucas and company used for the prototype armor isn’t included here. Some fans wanted to see this detail replicated, but we’re happy with what Hasbro has decided to include instead. The included cape only has a few blue stars on it, but it definitely looks cool!

The 2004 VOTC version of Boba Fett will go down in history as one of the best Boba Fett figures of all time. And as evidenced by Hasbro’s consistent reuse of the mold we can gather that they are quite proud of it themselves. It thankfully doesn’t have a removable helmet (something that old-timers loathe) and it’s loaded with 15 points of articulation and can be situated nearly limitlessly for your posing needs. (The 15th extra point of articulation is the movable rangefinder.) It looks good no matter how Hasbro paints it and it’s even been slightly tweaked and carried forward in The Vintage Collection as the Revenge Of The Jedi/Return Of The JediBoba Fett (VC09) figure. It’s a pretty sure bet that Hasbro will never get tired of making Boba Fett action figures. They truly have mastered his presence in the basic figure line. But we would still like them to go one step further. If they can incorporate ball-jointed hips in this sculpt it will render it perfect in out eyes. While we wait to see if this goes down or not, be sure to at least mail-away for this figure by the deadline. We weren’t initially interested in it, but it’s become one of our favorites very quickly.